Two students selected share an interest in advancing feline medicine
Bridgewater, NJ; Wyckoff, NJ; May 25, 2023 – The American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) and EveryCat Health Foundation are delighted to announce the 2023 scholarship recipients for veterinary students pursuing a career in feline clinical practice or feline clinical research. Hailey Davis, Colorado State University, Class of 2024 is awarded the Clinical Research Scholarship. Emma Li, The Ohio State University, Class of 2024, receives the Clinical Practice Scholarship.
“We are thrilled to announce this year’s recipients,” stated Jackie Jaakola, EveryCat Health Foundation’s executive director. “Hailey and Emma are exceptional individuals with a clear passion for feline medicine and a dedication to advancing the health and wellbeing of our feline companions. We are honored to support their continued education and look forward to seeing the positive impact they will make in the field of feline veterinary medicine.”
Hailey Davis, Colorado State University, Clinical Research Scholarship
Hailey Davis has been promoting feline health with the Center for Companion Animal Studies at Colorado State University since 2019. Ms. Davis’s proudest achievement is her role as the lead student researcher on a multi-month probiotic study alongside board-certified behaviorists and researchers, where she developed the study parameters and was responsible for the study’s design, implementation, and data collection. She presented the results at a national ACVIM conference and plans to publish a paper based on the findings of the study. After graduation, Ms. Davis intends to pursue an academic rotating internship to participate in additional research. She also plans to participate in a residency/PhD program and design projects to improve feline health and wellbeing globally.
Emma Li, The Ohio State University, Clinical Practice Scholarship
Emma Li is the first The Ohio State University student to pursue a fourth-year clinical focus specific to feline medicine. Ms. Li has been involved in projects involving topics such as unlicensed therapeutics in feline infectious peritonitis, clinical management of feline idiopathic cystitis, and the quality of feline-specific education in veterinary schools. She is the current AAFP Board of Directors Student Representative. Ms. Li believes that improvement in the field begins with feline-specific student education along with advocacy for evidence-based handling. As an officer of several on-campus clubs, Ms. Li organizes frequent educational events to enhance access to high-level feline-specific education. After graduation, Ms. Li plans to spend a year in feline practice and apply for an American Board of Veterinary Professionals residency in feline specialty medicine to improve access to high-level feline-specific education.
“As advocates for feline health, we recognize the importance of investing in the education and development of future feline medicine leaders,” added Heather O’Steen, CAE, AAFP CEO. “We are proud to award these scholarships to exceptional individuals who have shown a commitment to advancing feline health through their academic achievements, research, and clinical work.”
To learn more about additional educational opportunities, student resources, and feline-specific toolkits, please visit the AAFP and EveryCat Health Foundation websites
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